The L.A. BEER BLAST is designed to let Food GPS readers know about what’s new at select L.A. bars and restaurants with great beer selections. You’ll also discover great beer-related events in the area and learn about industry leaders. Expect a new L.A. BEER BLAST every Thursday evening, in time for the weekend rush. Look in the left sidebar, SUBSCRIBE to Food GPS and you’ll receive the L.A. BEER BLAST by e-mail.

Two of Verdugo Bar’s owners – Ryan Sweeney and Brandon Bradford – are teaming with Adolfo Suaya (BoHo, Osaka Hollywood) on a beer-focused West Hollywood bar called The Surly Goat, which will feature a 22-foot marble bar and 24-30 tap handles, plus two steady casks. CLICK HERE TO FOR MORE INFO.

Nobody needs an excuse to consume mass quantities of pizza and beer, but charity is always a nice nudge. On September 26, professor Gev Kazanchyan (CSUN, College of the Canyons) hosted Dionicess V at CitySip. The event featured seven beers and five pizzas and raised over $1000 for Real Medicine Foundation (RMF), an organization that provides humanitarian support to people living in disaster, post-war and poverty stricken areas. CLICK HERE FOR THE RECAP.

Brew & You columnist Sean Inman was in Denver for the Great American Beer Festival and has some unique takes on what he saw and drank. CLICK HERE TO READ INMAN’S ANALYSIS.

From September 23-26, beer writer Tomm Carroll filed quick-hitting dispatches from the Super Bowl of beer on his iPhone. CLICK HERE FOR CARROLL’S REPORTS

BEACHWOOD BBQ
131 Main Street, Seal Beach, 562 493 4500

New draught options at Gabriel Gordon’s noted Seal Beach beer bar include Mad River Jamaica Red, Oscar Blues Old Chub, Valley Brew Collaborative Evil, Russian River Blind Pig, Reisdorf Kolsch, Lost Abbey Red Barn and Stone Smoked Porter with American Oak (on cask). Track changes to Gordon’s 24-tap blackboard menu via HOP CAM.

BLUE PALMS BREWHOUSE
6124 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, 323 464 2337

As of September 29, Blue Palms proprietor Brian Lenzo was stocking his 24 taps with beers like Mad River Mad Belgian, North Coast Old Rasputin RIS, Big Sky IPA, Victory Festbier and Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA, which just took gold at the Great American Beer Festival.

BoHo
6372 West Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, 323 465 8500

Verdugo Bar co-owner Ryan Sweeney handles the list at BoHo. You’ll find kegs of Ballast Point Fathom India Pale Lager, The Bruery’s Hottenroth Berliner Weisse with raspberry or woodruff syrup, and coming soon, Craftsman Oktoberfest.

THE DAILY PINT
2310 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, 310 450 7631

Here’s today’s update from the Pint:

New on tap: Big Eye IPA, Green Flast West Coast IPA, Firestone Double Jack, Victory Festbier, Avery Oktoberfest and Weihenstephan. New on cask: Stone Arrogant Bastard with Amarillo and Simcoe Hops and Stone Levitation Amber with Amarillo Hops.

THE FIFTH AMENDMENT ALEHOUSE
129 Broadway, Santa Monica, 310 386 1428

Here’s last night’s update from co-owner Dan Petrovich:

“We just tapped the Firestone Double Jack IPA, Weinstephaner Hefeweizen, a fresh keg of Dogfish 90 Minute IPA, and the Ballast Point Yellow Tail IPA. Our Racer 5, Guiness 250, White Orchard, Chimay, and Affligem is very popular now as well. As always $3 beer specials from 5pm to 2am 7 days per week through football season.”

LUCKY BALDWIN’S
17 South Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, 626 795 0652

Tonight, Lucky Baldwin’s is hosting Achouffe Brewery brewmaster Chris Bauweraerts, featuring several of his beers, including McChouffe, Houblon and La Chouffe.

Oktoberfest begins on October 3 and runs through October 11, featuring a wide variety of German and German-style beers, including Beck’s Oktoberfest, Samuel Adams Octoberfest, Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen, Widmer OKTO and a season-specific beer from New Belgium. You’ll also find a glass special; keep the glass and refill it at a discount.

Lucky Baldwin’s
21 Kersting Court, Sierra Madre, 626 355 1140

Lucky Baldwin’s eastern outpost is also celebrating Oktoberfest from October 3-11, featuring a wide variety of German and German-style beers. They already tapped Spaten Optimator, Paulaner Oktoberfest, Victory Festbier and Weihenstephan, and plan to load up on Oktoberfest beers on Saturday.

McG’s
21356 Devonshire Street, Chatsworth, 818 734 7056

Here’s tonight’s update from David Stickel, who’s now overseeing the beer program at The Daily Pint’s sister establishment in the northwest Valley.

“Just put on a couple classics, Allagash White and Maudite. Believe it or not, these are new to a lot of people out here. Excellent gateway beers.

Also new on tap this week, we’ve got Paulaner’s Oktoberfest, and a keg of Maredsous 10. Wexford Cream Ale is back on nitro, subbing in for Old Speckled Hen. Earlier in the week we also put on a big keg of Rubicon IPA.

Bottle-wise, we are expanding our Specialty beers which have been popular in the last couple of weeks. We should be getting a couple gueuzes in, plus some left-field flavors: Well’s Banana Bread, Shipyard Pumpkinhead (think pumpkin pie), Sea Dog Blueberry Ale, Kasteel Rouge.

Coming soon, the West Coast premiere of Duvel Green.

SIMMZY’S
229 Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Manhattan Beach, 310 546 1201

Here’s today’s update from Simmzy’s Manager Chris Garza:

“We have a lmited release by Lagunitas on tap now. Its an Ale with a solid west coast hop presence and a light malty finish to add a bit of sweetness. Super tasty, it won’t last long… Waiting to come on is Mexico’s original amber, Negro Modelo. Its perfect for fall, easy drinking and great flavor. Soon to be tapped is the Double Dead Guy by Rogue, a double dose of their renowned Dead Guy brew. Certainly a special find! Cheers!”

VERDUGO BAR
3408 Verdugo Road, Glassell Park, 323 257 3408

According to Verdugo Bar co-owner Ryan Sweeney, you’ll find kegs of Lucifer, New Belgium La Folie and Victory Baltic Thunder, plus bottles of Stingo, a barrel aged beer from Samuel Smith.

According to an e-mail from Alex Brown and Evan George at Hot Knives, “On Sunday, October 4, Verdugo Bar will host ‘Over the Top Oktoberfest,’ featuring an arm wrestling tournament with both men’s and women’s heats, veggie German grub from beer blogging cooks Hot Knives, and a round of autobahn disco DJ sets. Entrance is free. Bring cash for food. To boot, Verdugo’s rotating taps now boast real Berliner Weisse beers that can be spiffed up with genuine woodruff and raspberry syrups as well as Craftsman’s Oktoberfest. From the patio grill, Hot Knives will spew veggie beer brats, various flavors of homemade, barrel-fermented sauerkraut, kartoffel salad, and Hefeweizen popsicles (of course). For inspiration, DJ Dusseldork and friends – DJ Wonder von Popsicle and Mahssa (B Music) – will engineer pure German precision on the dance floor.”

THE YORK
5018 York Boulevard, Highland Park, 323 255 9675

Here’s today’s update from The York manager Mary Drenthe:

“This week on draught we added Craftsman Oktoberfest. It’s a yummy amber lager with hints of spice and caramel malt. By the weekend we’ll also have Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA, which explodes on the palate with the perfect blend of bitter hops, citrus, and malty sweetness. And on cask we’re pouring Craftsman Poppyfields Pale Ale.”

“Also, next week we will be getting a special keg of La Trappe Isidor, the 125th anniversary brew from Koningshoeven, one of the seven Trappist breweries and the only one located outside of Belgium (in the Netherlands). This commemorative beer is named for the first Trappist brewer, Brother Isidorus. La Trappe Isidor (7.5 ABV) is a mildly sweet amber ale made with Perle hops grown on the monastery grounds. We can’t wait to try this special brew!”